Grab Holdings Limited announced Monday that it has agreed to purchase Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda business in Taiwan for $600 million in cash, subject to regulatory approval.
The transaction is Grab’s first major step beyond its traditional Southeast Asian footprint and positions the Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery platform as a dominant player in one of Asia’s most mature food-delivery markets.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Grab aims to complete the full migration of users, merchants, and driver-partners to its platform by early 2027. Once integrated, Grab will operate in 21 cities across Taiwan, combining its AI-powered logistics and operational expertise with Foodpanda’s established local network.
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Anthony Tan, Grab’s Group CEO and co-founder, emphasized the strategic fit, saying: “This is a natural next step for Grab, as our experience in Southeast Asia is a direct fit for this market. Our longstanding expertise in managing complex delivery logistics for dense and high-traffic cities is well-suited for Taiwan’s bustling cities. Taiwan’s population of approximately 23 million also has a high demand for mobile-first services, similar to the Southeast Asian consumers who Grab serves every day. We see a significant opportunity to grow the food and groceries delivery scene here.”
Foodpanda’s Taiwan operations generated approximately $1.8 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) in recent periods, according to Delivery Hero disclosures. The business has maintained a leading position in the market, with reports from 2022–2023 showing Foodpanda holding roughly 52% share and Uber Eats controlling 48%.
The acquisition follows Uber’s failed attempt to buy Foodpanda’s Taiwan business in March 2025. Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission blocked that deal, citing competition concerns. A combined Uber Eats–Foodpanda entity would have controlled nearly 90% of the market, raising risks of reduced competition and higher prices for consumers.
Grab’s entry presents a different competitive picture. The company would inherit Foodpanda’s roughly 52% market share, giving it a strong but not monopolistic position against Uber Eats. Analysts view the structure as more likely to pass antitrust review, as it would preserve a two-player market rather than consolidate it under one operator.
The deal arrives at a pivotal moment for Grab, which has been expanding its delivery and financial services businesses across Southeast Asia while navigating rising competition from regional players and global giants entering the market. Taiwan offers a high-density, tech-savvy consumer base with strong demand for on-demand services — characteristics that closely match Grab’s core markets in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Taiwan’s food-delivery sector has matured rapidly since the pandemic, with high smartphone penetration, dense urban populations, and widespread use of mobile payments. The market has also shown resilience despite economic headwinds, making it an attractive entry point for Grab as it seeks to diversify revenue beyond Southeast Asia.
The transaction also underscores the shifting dynamics of the global food-delivery industry. Delivery Hero, which has been under pressure to reduce debt and refocus on core markets, has been shedding non-strategic assets. Selling its Taiwan business allows the Berlin-based company to streamline operations while providing Grab with a ready-made platform to establish a foothold in East Asia.
But regulatory approval will be the key hurdle. Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission will scrutinize the deal for potential impacts on competition, pricing, and consumer choice. Grab’s position as a new entrant rather than an incumbent consolidator could improve its chances of clearance compared with Uber’s blocked bid.
For consumers and merchants in Taiwan, the transition could bring more robust platform features, including Grab’s AI-driven route optimization, dynamic pricing, and integrated financial services. The shift to Grab’s ecosystem is also expected to offer driver-partners access to a broader range of earning opportunities across ride-hailing and delivery.
If the deal closes on schedule and integration proceeds smoothly, Taiwan could become a proving ground for Grab’s ability to scale outside its home markets.